Variety (Sep 1939)

S4 VARIETY RADIO Wediicsduy, Scplemlier 27, 1939 WEBS' D. C. GUESSERS FORESEE REPORT SLAPPING 'CONTROL' OF STATIONS' TIME Monopoly Hearings Gave Clue to Possible Recom- mendations—First Light on Involved Subject Due Around Oct. 15 Washington, Sept. 26. Prospective restrictions concern- ing network control over time of affiliated stations are expected to be sketched In the FCC staff digest of testimony collected at the six-month monopoly-chain probe last winter and spring. Tome summarizing all the evidence, oral and statistical, is in final stages and due for presen- tation to the four-man committee in charge of the study around Oct. 15. Repeated assertions that the analy- sis will be 'factual' have come from the FCC but so far have failed to eradicate the impression that some sort of limitation is likely to result. | Some individuals who have gandered ^ the proofs and worksheets insist j that, while the summary will not contain any direct recommendations | to the higher-ups, the document will i not be wholly objective. . { No directions have been given the staff pick-and-shovel crew, except to produce a comprehensive review of all important data in the shortest possible time. Yet the individuals actually in charge of the work have reflected some convictions which hardly can be kept out of the tome. Chief authors are S. King Funk- houser, special counsel, and De- Quincy Sutton, assistant chief of the accounting department.. They- are [ being aided by a small detachment j' of lawyers and engineers. Although nothing concrete is known, industry observers are pre-1 paring themselves for a summary ■which will build up a strong case in favor of several policy innovations and lead to more stringent super- vision. Slant of the probers was shown pretty clearly during the in- quiry when network people were quizzed sharply about the degree of management freedom enjoyed by af- filiates, the formulas by which time was divided between local and web programs, the interlocking relation- ships and 'community of interest,' and possible waste of facilities through a high percentage of ser- vice duplication. The commish Is following the 1 usual procedure of governmental in-1 ve.'stigallng bodies. A pi;esumably- iinbiased review of the pertinent facts and important topics is to be the basis for discussion among the committeemen about conclusions and recommendations. No findings are to be made by the staff, although the group working under Funk- houser and Sutton unquestionably will Interpret their summary and may take part in discussions as to what the facts show. Then this crowd probably will be directed to whip into shape the decisions of the committee, which will be presented to the full commission for debate and final ratification. Objective is to get a final report ready for Congress before January. That would contain recommenda- tions for changes in and additions to the 1934 Communications Act, dis- cussing such controversial matters, in all probability, as the need for clearer statement of basic policy, ad- ditional powers to handle specific problems, the amount of centraliza- tion and possibly remedial Qneasures putting unmistakable meaning into the broad, vague principles now in the statute. With the Staff review due to be in the hands of the com- mittee by the middle of next month, it is hoped the committee's proposed final report can be completed be- tween Nov. 1 and 15, and the whole chore washed up before Christmas. Highly Significant Under the present plan, the first unveiling will not occur until the committee has finished its composi- tion. Staff report is supposed to be confidential and theoretically would be of scant interest because of its purely factual nature, Nevertheless, industry sleuths- are keeping eyes and ears focused in the hope of learning how the wind ia blowing. They feel the staff study will be highly indicative, since such docu- ments so often state the case in a way that permits only one conclu- sion to be reached on each major subdivision. There is no question that certain members of the Commish and key OF OHIO'S FAMILIES TO WGAR Thirty-eight percent of Ohio's fami- lies live in counties within our 60 mile service area. That's better than one-third of the families of the state. What's more, 25% of the state's total families live within a co/>- densed 35 mile retail trading area which is blanketed consistently day and night by WGAR's signal. Thirty-nine of the 88 counties in the state of Ohio have cities of 10,000 or more population, and 13 of these 39 counties are within our 60 mile service area. CLEVELAND'S FRIENDLY STATION But what's more important, our home county (Cuyahoga) tops all others in the state with its 299,984 families. Here, in our own front yard, is 54% of the population of the northeastern Ohio market, 55% of the radio homes, 55% of the retail outlets, 59% of the buying income, and 58% of the retail sales. Here is a market that deserves a place in any sales and advertising plm — where, considering coverage, rat<is and merchandising service, your money buys most with WGAR.' subordinates have a profound con- viction that the webs have done .in- dependently-owned outlets dirt in many instances and that loo much chain control of affiliates' time is contrary to the jublic interest. Much emphasis was placed on this phase of operations during the hear- ings with the major chains insisting they allow the utmost latitude and always are quick to permit indi- vidual units to turn down web pro- grams either because they may not please the audience or because some pressing local event deserves cover- age. But the indies yowled, with John Shepard, 3rd, and Samuel Ros- enbaum in particular protesting their crowd often was handcuffed and mistreated. Retort from the webs was that the affiliates want to have their cake and eat it, too. The profit angle will come in for close scrutiny, it is expected. Deep interest was shown by the probers (Continued on page 53) Mexican Court Refuses Recording As Evidence Of Broadcast Slander Mexico City, Sept. 26. Federal supreme coiirt has refused to accept a transcription made of a broadcast as corroborative evidence in a case involving slander. Rejec- tion occurred in a suit brought by Robert Lee Spann, who operates a sanatorium in Dallas, against the Compana Radiofusora Fronterzia. Spann charged this company's sta- tion, XERA, located acros.; the Texas line, damaged his personal and pro- fessional reputation in a broadcast and offered the record as evidence. The Mexican high court admitted that the disk was evidence, but held that it wasn't conclusive since Spann couldn't prove that the contents of the record was the same as that of the broadcast which the plaintiff al- leged did him Injury. WNOE DISLODGES WDSU FROM mLUSIVE' New Orleans, Sept. 26. Two New Orleans stations, WDSU and WNOE, are In rivalry at pres- ent over the broadcast of Prep school football games, with the lat- ter seemingly possessing the edge after two weeks of maneuvers. The point involves sponsorship of the games—three weekly for nine weeks —in which the prospective client, the Zetz-7 Up Bottling Co., was pre- pared to take the time on either station, providing they could be guaranteed the games exclusively. Deal was practically closed with WDSU, when WNOE announced in- tention to carry the games, thus knocking the 'exclusive' angle. A move was then made through city park board of directors, operators of the stadium where the games will be played, to allow the games exclusively through WDSU, the station which carried most of them without opposition last year. The board told WNOE they wouldn't be admitted, but the sta- tion squawked, with Slate Senator James A. Noe, owner, threatening suit for broadcast rights. He claimed awarding of privilege for exclusive rights could not be made this year, because competitive bids had not been requested far enough in advance. After ten minutes of argument before the Board by Clark Alexan- der representing WNOE, the board relented, announcing that this sea- son they would grant no exclusive rights, but next season would allow one station only in the park, with rights going via the highest bidder route. From the Production Centers IN NEW YORK CITY ... Edward Sloman back to Hollywood to start new transcription series for Radio AtUactions. His 'Pinocchio' launched in east...,Bill Kostka moving from Cos Cob, Conn., to Hastings, N. Y., to cut down train time,,..Wilt Sunzendorfer, of KSRO, Santa Rosa, Cal., prowling about town. Genevieve Rowe goes back on the Bach Cantata series with Alfred Wal- lenstein on WOR when it returns next month Henry Pringle, Pulitzer Prize winner, and C. V. R. Thompson, English journalist, guest on Mutual's 'Author, Author' show Monday (2)..,.Sammy Kaye is Benay Venuta'i first guest on her sustainer's .bow on WOR Sunday (1)....WKRC, Cin- cinnati, and KFEL, Denver, added to Mutual's Goodwill Hour spread for Ironized Yeast. IN HOLLYWOOD ... J. OREN WEAVER TO N.Y. Chicago, Sept. 20. Called suddenly into New York as assistant to Paul White, chief of pub- lic affairs for Columbia, was J. Oren Weaver, who has been news editor of Columbia-WBBM here for the past three years. George Stellman; who has bean in the news department locally for .some time, gets promotion inlo .spot I vacated by Weaver. I Dick McKnight flew in to hop up some scripLs for Bob Hope's Pepso- denter. Previously dished up the gags for Bob Benchlcy and Joe Penner Edmund 'Tiny' Ruffner drew a contempt citation for failing to show up in court at hearing on restraining order pending his frau's suit for sep- arate maintenance. He's reported somewhere in Mexico... .Harry Kron- man sufficiently recovered from his long illness to write a piece for Edward Robinson to perform in 'Big Town' Parkyakarkus personating but keeping an ear to the ground for that radio call Jack Haley's radio deal said to be hotter than old Sol Solly Violinsky finally gets paid for his gags. Joe Penner signing the voucher... .CBS moved Clinton Jones to Frisco as news ed of its bureau there... .John Conte flying back and forth between announcing the Gulf-Screen Guild show and making per- sonals with 'It Happened in Hollywood' troupe through the midwest..., Marvin Young and Andy Love, NBC title holders, lecturing studes at Uni- versity of California extension division on radio writing and production ... .Bing Crosby back on Kraft this week and Bob Burns vacation-bound ....Nan Grey and Donald Woods rehired as leads for Royal Gelatine's 'Those We Love' John Wald going it alone as the Richfield Reporter. Ken Barton's successor being auditioned... .Bob Loewi quit William Morris agency to concentrate on his new television outfit. His dad is the high command at Dumont... .Brad Browne here to produce Al Pearce show for N. W. Aycr's Dole account... .Leo Townsend and Robert Ross back on the Texaco writing staff....For the first time in these latitudes a net- work commercial will originate from a nile spot. Il's the Gulf-Screen Guild program and the pitch will be in Earl Carroll's bistro. There'll be chairs for a thousand. .. .Dorothy Barslow will be back for the third rea- son as producer of Jean Hcrsholt's 'Dr. Christian.' IN SAN FRANCISCO ... Tom Breneman has left KSFO for Hollywood to air his 'Spelling Bee- Liner' and his Marvel Cigarettes' 'Sports Pop-offs' from KNX... .New half- hour morning musicale. 'Good Morning Matinee.' is being originated fiva times a week by KPO for release over the Coast NBC-Red web and Canadian outlets, with different vocalists and musical units being used daily... .Dorothy Lee starts a new weekly quarter-hour song session over Coast Red outlets this week, broadcasting from the KPO studios here New dramatic dialog penned by Arnold Marquis, KPO-KGQ producer, gets a flve-a-week spot on the Red chain beginning this week; if.s called 'Oh, Mr. Dinwiddle'... .Paul Martin made his first public appearance since his return from a New York vacation when he and his musicians played last Saturday for a Press club dinner dance at which manager Lloyd E. Yoder of KPO-KGO was host... .Soprano Anne Jamison of concert, opera and radio was quizzed by Ira Blue on hi.s 'Let's Listen' program over KPO Tuesday.-.(26)...„CliDlOij..Jj}nP.s . fron?.. KN.JL^...K.SFO_pa.yj-oll as news editor and assistant to Bob Garred, new.scaster. He will write copy for' three commercial series which Garred handles—Bathasweet. Twenty Grand Cigarettes and Mennen's Shave Cream... .Announcer Frank Farr yesterday joined the KPO-KGO staff here, replacing Emerson Smith who left re- cently to become assistant program manager at KDYL, Salt Lake City, from whence Farr comes. KDYL Too Much on Job; Police, Fire Lads Squawk Salt Lake City, Sept. 26. Radio Station KDYL was handed a verbal spanking by local police and fire officials for its quick action in coverage of a big hotel fire. Gen- darmes and fire laddies complained that station's mobile unit staff hin- dered them. Craif Rogers of KDYL was tipped off about the general alarm at 2 p. m. Three minutes.later,, he and. Myron Fox, program director, together with technical staff and wax engineers sped to the scene of the fire—15 blocks away—want on the air at 2:19 with graphic on-the-spot descriptions and interviews with rescued guests and firemen. This display of zip irked the press also. LLOYD THOMAS OPENS NAIB IN KEARNEY, NEB. Kearney, Neb., Sept. 26. National Assn. of Independent Broadcasters' main offices are being set up here. Lloyd Thon\as, KGFW general manager in this town, Ji secretary-treasurer of the india broadca.sters and will run the office. Will be a clearing hou.se for the hiz of the 400 station niembers. .. WREN SWITCHES REPS WREN, Kansas City, Mo., has switched its national sales repre- .sentatton from George P. Holling- bery to the Howard H. Wilson Co. Outlet is affiliated with the NBC blue link. VlHM AND Mu,,^,^ "■^ tCSUL" Do YOU want more New York tales? Smart national advertisers use WHN to supplement their network pro- grams in the world's richest market. WHN DIAL 1010 New York City CHICAGO 360 No. Mic OFFICE higan Av«.